Toms River, NJ news and local guide

The area was in the southern part of Shrewsbury Township until March 1, 1768, when a royal charter created Dover Township. During the Revolution, Toms River had a strategically important salt works that supplied the colonial militias and was a base for privateers who raided British and Tory ships off the coast. In March 1782 British and Loyalist soldiers attacked the militia's blockhouse on the river and captured Captain Joshua Huddy, who was later hanged at Sandy Hook. They also destroyed the salt works and most of the village. The incident inflamed relations among the British, Loyalists and patriots and helped prolong the peace negotiations in Paris until 1783. Dover Township was incorporated as one of New Jersey's first 104 townships by the Township Act of February 21, 1798. In the 19th century Toms River became a center of shipbuilding, whaling, fishing and iron and lumber production. It is now a regional commercial hub of central New Jersey and the state's eighth-largest municipality. Sources Wikipedia: Toms River, New Jersey